Isabel Baked a What?!

Something about fall screams, 'Bake!" We love to bake any time of year, but it seems essential to do so in the fall. We bake the usual things you'd associate with autumn, such as pumpkin bread and apple pie, but earlier this month Isabel had a chance to bake something a little more unusual for us. 

It all started out when we were cleaning up the garden. We ended up with a couple of buckets full of green tomatoes. We tried fried green tomatoes, which were good, but not so good that we wanted to eat them everyday! Or fry them everyday. Not fond of that smell. A quick internet search brought up all kinds of ideas for using green tomatoes. The recipe that caught Isabel's eye was ... drum roll ... Green Tomato Pie!

Those who commented on the recipe all said it tasted just like apple pie. So we decided to take the plunge. 

 First, Isabel washed the green tomatoes very well.

 Then she cut the tomatoes into small slices.

Next, she mixed up a pie crust, divided it half, and rolled it out.
We use this recipe for pie crust. It hasn't failed us yet. 

 She's pretty good at crust. 

 After mixing the tomatoes with sugar, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar, Isabel poured the mixture into the pie pan.

 We worked together to make a lattice top. Isabel used the leftover crust to cut out pretty leaf shapes with a cookie cutter. She always decorates her pies beautifully. 

 Here is the finished product, fresh from the oven. It looked and smelled delicious, but knowing it was made out of green tomatoes made us a little nervous about taste-testing it. 

 After dinner, Isabel did the honors of cutting and serving her pie. 

 We were thrilled to discover that the pie was delicious! It really did taste like apple pie! 
Isabel says, "It sounded really weird, but I was glad to find out that it tasted good! I am very proud of how my hard work turned out."

Even our pickiest eater loved Green Tomato Pie!

 Here is a link to the recipe we used. We highly recommend making your own!

My Day at Fort Atkinson

                                                         My Day at Fort Atkinson

                                                                  by Benedict

   Yesterday we went to Fort Atkinson State Historic Park in Fort Calhoun, NE. Established in 1819, it was the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri River. We all had a lot of fun learning things about the fort. My brother, sister, and my friends from our history co-op did a cannon drill. Then we went into each room in the fort and people dressed as soldiers, blacksmiths, and laundresses, etc. talked about the things in the room. We even got to try many activities including making and drinking homemade apple cider. We went on a hike to Council Bluff where Lewis and Clark met with the Oto and Missouri Indians. Finally, I enlisted in the army. It was a fun day.

The Apple Cider Press

Ephrem enjoying the cider

The blacksmith making a nail

Broom Making

Making Lace

   In a cannon drill there are 6 people who man the cannon. First, Man 2 worms the hole for leftover shells. Then Man 1 cleans the hole with a sponge. Man 3 holds his thumb over the lighting hole. Then Man 2 dries the hole with a dry sponge. Man 6 gives a cannon ball to Man 2 who puts it in the cannon. Then Man 1 rams it down with a rammer. Man 5 puts in the wick. Finally, Man 4 fires the cannon.

Cleaning the cannon

    In 1820, to enlist you had to be at least 10 years old. You had to swear an oath to the U.S. Military. In the oath an enlistee promised to obey orders and protect the United States. To enlist a commander and the enlistee must sign their names onto the contract, which was usually for 5 years. Then for enlisting a soldier get a $6 bonus.

Me with my 5 year contract. I've enlisted!

    My favorite room was the 6th infantry barracks and kitchen. In the barracks the soldiers had bunk beds and 2 soldiers shared each bunk. The bunks were smaller than my twin sized bed! Each soldier had one peg to hang his stuff. The kitchen had a table, a cupboard, a fireplace, and a wood stock. They would cook food in closed pots and pans. Soldiers always carried a musket, a blanket, a knapsack, a canteen, a haversack, a cartridge box, and a bayonet.

Inside the 6th Infantry barracks kitchen

A typical barracks kitchen

Heading down the bluff to the site of Council Bluff

                                                                                                 

                                                                      

Emanuel's Quote of the Day

I haven't recorded one of these for awhile. At age 9, he's still full of awesome one-liners! 

Yesterday while riding in the car he said, "Let's discuss varieties of cheeses."

Love this kid.